Apparatus for holding articles



June 9, 1959 D. SHANKS APPARATUS FOR HOLDING ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 7, 1956 June 9, 1959 D. L. SHANKS APPARATUS FOR HOLDING ARTICLES Filed Sept. 7, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 9, 1959 D. L. SHANKS 2, APPARATUS FOR HOLDING ARTICLES Filed Sept. 7, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet C5 2 ){VB TOR. L MW 5% United States Patent APPARATUS FOR HOLDING ARTICLES Donald L. Shanks, Abington, Mass. Application September 7, 1956, Serial No. 608,483

6 Claims. (Cl. 43-54.5)

This invention relates to apparatus for holding articles, particularly to hold fish hooks, fishing tackle and small articles in general.

One object of my invention is to provide means to hold some articles in individual fashion, such as fish hooks, for instance, and in such a manner that they can readily be placed in holding position and just as readily be removed, yet avoiding any tendency to tangle one with another. 7

Another object of my invention is to provide such apparatus in combination with a receptacle and cover, using the receptacles, in both open and closed positions, as a support for a holding rack, and providing room on both sides of the rack for other articles.

A further object is to provide such apparatus with a rack so formed and mounted in a receptacle that all the articles carried by the rack are visible at a glance, while the rack serves also as a support for a tray.

A still further object is to provide such apparatus with parts so arranged that a fisherman or other person may safely carry thereby many difierent articles in a convenient manner, and the use of which is so obvious that no instructions are needed.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be c mp y a ccns ruct culcqmbina n and ar a g m n o p ts s c as. i d sc osed y he d ngs- Th nature of the inventionis such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawings nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to. all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of my claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my apparatus for holding articles, with the cover open.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a tray that fits within my apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of my apparatus with the cover open.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged, top plan view of my supporting rack.

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view of my apparatus with the cover closed on the receptacle.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, enlarged, front elevational view of my supporting rack.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged, sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

As illustrated, my apparatus for holding fishing tackle and the like, has a receptacle or container 10 having a front 12 that is relatively low, a back 14 that is higher than said front, a left side 16, a right side 18, and a hot- "2,889,658 Patented June 9, 1959 tom 19. These parts may be formed integrally, as of molded plastic, or could be joined and fastened together, to provide a unitary receptacle. The upper edges of the sides 16 and 18 extend diagonally upward and rearward.

A cover 20 for said receptacle has a front 22 that is relatively high, a back 24 that is lower than said front, a left side 26, a right side 28 and a top 30. A lip or rim 23 extends beyond said, front 22 and sides 26 and 28. Well known hinges 32 connect said cover to said receptacle, being fastened to said receptacle back 14 and said cover. back 24. This receptacle and cover are so formed that they fit together, the, lower edges of the sides 26 and 28, extending diagonally forward and upward, thus providing a tight receptacle. Said receptacle front 12 has well known fastener members 34 and said cover front 22 has fasteners 36 that cooperate 'with said members 34 to removably hold the. two parts together. Said cover lip 23 overlaps said receptacle front 12 and sides 16 and 18 in closed position.

Within said receptacle 10 a continuous channel 40 is provided which, as shown, extends vertically at the sides 16 and 18 and horizontally at the bottom 19. Two projecting ribs 41 define said channel which is spaced from said front 12 and from said back 14; but is preferably nearer the front than the back, as, for instance, in a receptacle measuring seven inches from front to back the slot may advantageously be located three inches rearwardly of the. front 12. I prefer a bottom. slot for added stability; but slots in the sides alone could serve in some instances.

Said cover top 30 and a front 22, where they join, have an outer recess 42. Pivotally attached to said cover sides 26 and 28, near the. top 30, are supporting bars 44 for a, handle grip. 46 extending across the cover top 30. This handle grip lies in said recess 42 when not in use when thecover is-closed as, shown in dash lines in said Fig. 1. When the cover is fully open, the handle contacts the. ground or other supporting surface, being on the same level as thereceptacle bottom 19,. as shown in said Fig. 1. Said bars 44 being of such length, and the receptacle 10 and cover 20 are. of such proportionate sizes, and so hinged, that the handle grip 46 thus provides a rest and support forthe cover, maintaining it in a predetermined position, thus avoiding strain to said hinges 32. In this open position the cover serves as a temporary receptacle for things a fisherman, or other person using my apparatus, wishes to deposit, including a tray 68 later described.

Slidably fitting into said channel 40 in the receptacle sides and bottom, is a supporting rack 50 having a main body 52 made of sheet plastic, metal or the like, from which extend protuberant or hanger portions 54 at the front thereof intermediate the top and bottom. Each protuberant or hanger portion 54 has a top ledge part 56 having slots 58 therein which extend almost horizontally rearward, and that are suitable to receive the curved ends of hooks H, clips and the like, so that these articles hang independently in predetermined, individual positions at the front of said rack 50. These hanger portions 54 project forwardly of said channel 40 and ribs 41.

Each said hanger portion 54 has a lower ledge part 60 directly under said top ledge part 56, and it is desirable, where there are many articles to be hung, to provide horizontal slots 62 therein similar to and in alinement with, said slots 58, thus greatly increasing the capacity of a said hanger portion 54. I show three of these hanger portions 54 on said rack 50; but the number may be varied, depending upon the needs. They should be spaced vertically apart sufficiently to provide space below each hanger portion to conveniently place a hook or other article.

This supporting rack 50 extends higher than any part 3v of said receptacle so that access to the articles hanging thereon will be easy and thereceptacle front is purposely made relatively low so all said articles will be visible when the cover is opened. I

As a further convenience for fishermen and others, who have articles to carry, such as sinkers, pins, chains and the like, I provide a tray 68 that is divided by partitions 70 into compartments 72. Forwardly of the front of this tray is a U-shaped flange 74 that projects forwardly and then downwardly to provide a groove so that said tray 68 may be hung on the top edge portion of said supporting rack 50, yet can readily be removed. A similar U-shaped flange 76 is rearwardly of the back of said tray so that it may readily be hung as aforesaid, at times, without having to reverse its position to bring the other flange into position to so hang it.

Said cover top 30, adjacent its rear edge (closed position), near the point where it meets said cover back 24, has an interior projecting strip 78 which is so positioned that, when said cover is closed, this strip 78 contacts the rear, upper edge or flange or said tray, thus providing lateral, steadying support for the latter when the cover is closed.

For the fisherman, with many small and large articles to carry, such as reels, extra lines and the like, the space in said receptacle rearwardly of said rack 50 provides ample room for reels and the like, and the space at the front of the rack is likewise useful.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for holding articles comprising a receptacle embodying a bottom, a front, a back and two sides, said back extending higher than said front, said sides extending diagonally upward from said front to said back, said receptacle having channels extending up said sides, and a supporting rack adapted to extend into said channels, said rack extending higher than said back, said rack embodying a protuberant portion having an upper ledge having slots therein.

' 2. Apparatus for holding articles comprising a receptacle embodying a bottom, a front, a back and two sides, said back extending higher than said front, said sides extending diagonally upward from said front to said back, said receptacle having channels extending up said sides at an intermediate point between said front and back, and a supporting rack adapted to extend into said channels, said rack extending higher than said back, said rack embodying a protuberant portion having an upper ledge having slots therein, and a lower ledge having slots therein, and an intermediate portion extending from and between said ledges.

3. Apparatus for holding articles comprising a receptacle embodying a bottom, a front, a back and two sides, said back extending higher than said front, said sides extending diagonally upward from said front to said back, said receptacle having channels extending up said sides at an intermediate point between said front and back, and a supporting rack adapted to extend into said channels, said rack extending higher than said back, and a tray having a flange forming a U-shape adapted to fit over the top of said rack and a movable cover for said receptacle embodying a top having a projecting strip extending from the rear, inner surface thereof and so positioned as to contact said tray when said cover is closed.

4. A supporting rack comprising a main body and a protuberant portion embodying an upper ledge portion having slots therein, and a lower ledge portion spaced vertically from said upper ledge portion and having slots therein in alinement with said upper ledge slots, and a solid front portion spaced forwardly of said main body and extending from and between said ledge portions.

5. Apparatus for holding articles comprising a receptacle embodying a front, a bottom, a back extending higher than said front, and two sides extending diagonally upward from front to back, and having vertically extending channels therein, a supporting rack adapted to slidably extend between said sides in said channels, said rack extending higher than said front, back and two sides when resting on said bottom.

6. Apparatus for holding articles, comprising a receptacle embodying two sides, said sides having channels therein extending upwardly, a supporting rack adapted to slidably extend between said sides and in said channels, and a tray embodying a flange forming a U-shape at the top of said tray adapted to fit over the top of said rack whereby the latter can provide support for said tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 578,458 Knieriemen Mar. 9, 1897 1,148,111 Mayer July 27, 1915 1,591,297 Dumouchel July 6, 1926 1,858,539 Dewey May 17, 1932 1,888,304 Bekeart Nov. 22, 1932 2,125,856 De Witt Aug. 2, 1938 2,717,505 Andersson Sept. 13, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,210 Great Britain June 12, 1914 73,167 Norway June 11, 1951 

